Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-11


Cmrulean his intentions; 10 which his
mother replied:
"Etzhubert, how absurd you are rs
il one could treat the Duke like sn ordi-
nary gentleman !"
"He is certainly most extraordinary
one, mamma.
~ really think, Maria. said her hus-
band, "that you carry your iniatustion
about the Duke rather too far. If he
wants an English wife he will seek one
in the old English aristocracy, not in
our rank of life. For my part I'd quite
as soon see ourOpkelia married TO young
Christopher Scrub, whom we have
known all our lives, as to this French
aristocrat, Of whose antecedents we know
nothing"
81 dare say you would, john" said
his wife. GAS if Ophelia could be as
happyas Mrs. Scrub as she would be rs
La Duchesse de Montanvertl And |
have the highest. opinion of the Duke.
| The zeal he has shown about that Peony
League in France is most commendable.
BY the way, have put you down for 200
guineas toward its funds"
1.-THE deuce you have !" exclaimed
Mr.. Rossendale, land pray what is the
Peony League, 1 should Like to know" >
"Its interests are the same as those Of
the Primrose League, John, only it aims
at the restoration of monarchy and mo-
rality, instead of, as IN England, at their
preservation. Captain Fosse takes the
greatest interest in it. He has actually
given $500, while the Frumps have
given G3O0, and others in proportion.
We couldn't, fol very shame, have
promised less than 200 guineas.
Just then the bell rang, and Captain
Fosse was announced. He seemed
rather excited, and looked round the
room with an air of disappointment. 81
had hoped" be said, "tO have found the
Duke here. Have you seen him to-day
! have hunted for him everywhere, but
nobody has seen either him or Vincent.
"He has not been here for two days,
was the reply. "Dr. Knowall told us be
was suffering from rheumatism. No
doubt he has gone off suddenly to Bath. "
"He would hardly havegone think, "
said the Captain, without letting me
| know. 1t is most mysterious"
The next day, on inquiry at the Hall,
it was ascertained that a letter had come
from the Duke bearing the London
postmark and saying that his doctor III
the metropolis had ordered him off in
stantly to Aix-les-B ains, whence, it was
hoped, that after a short period he
would return completely convalescent
Then were there searchings of hearts
in Llttlcswamp. After basking so long
under the sun of ducal glory the little
place seemed plunged back into an in
! tolerable state Of Cimmerian gloom.
Depression was far and widely felt, but
nowhere more keenly than IN the Kos
sendale family
One day a stranger called on them-a
quiet-looking, elderly gentleman-who
began 10 make inquiries about the de-
parted tenants OF Bcreslord Hall. When
he had heard all they could tell him, and
that the Duke and his friend had gone
to Aix-les- Bains, whence they hoped to
return in n few weeks, the stranger
seemed overcome with unaccountable
merriment as ne said: 1.-The Duke VIII
never come back
ooh but he has said that he will,
objected Mrs. Ro-sendale, surprised at
his manner and family alarmed.
"He'n never come back from Aix-les-
Bains," said the man, "for the best OF
all possible reasons, that he's no more IN
Aix-les-Bains than ] am"
"Pray explain yourself, sir" said
Mrs. ROssendale.
NV dear Madam, this Duke you've
all been entertaining 50 graciously Is one
of the greatest rogues and impostors at
this moment in England or out OF 1t.
We've long wanted him at Scotland Yard,
but it appears he has again given Us the
slip. The Duke DC Montanvert and Mr.
Edwin Vincent are simply Jonathan
Coppin and William his brother. They
were tailors originally, became bankrupt,
and then took to life of adventure and
amusement.
Then occurred scene. Ophelia
burst into tears her brother whistled
her father grinned; her mother ali bu
tainted.
Il dare say" said the detective
"they did not leave without getting
some money ont of the place, but
should be glad if You would explain tC
me the manner.
Mr.. Rossendale told him about the
Peony League, after which the gentle
man left, laughing with bitter scorn, ai
he drove away, at the facility with which
the worship of rank and blood had ren
dered tbisfoolisl neiphborhoOd the dup,
Of two clever impostors.
But the neighborhood was not long II
awakening, and bitter that awakening
was. Captain Fosse, the Frumps, anC
the other contributors to the Peony
League deplored the loss of their money
but the Captain had to deplore in addl
ton the lossof his reputation. "Where'
the Duke ?" urchins called after him
and "Duke" was scrawled in chalk al
about his back pailings. The trades
men who had been the dapes OF IN
stupidity and who had never ha(
penny of their money from the Duk'
revenged themselves on the Captain
They giggled audibly as ne passed the.
were most insulting to his sons. But
worse than this, they threw of Union
ism. and many who bad been true-blu
Tories all their lives followed the stream
and declared their intention of votlnl
for Rowantree. Rowantree became NOR
and more popular every day. III
speeches were spiced with a sarcasm
and inyectige that. exactly suited tn
taste of the time. The Captain, on tn
contrary, failed to get a hearing at all
storms of ridicule and shrieks OF laugh
ter. mingled with obiurgatons, drov
him from every platform, and when tn
election took place Rowantree heade'
the poll with an enormous majority
And Opheia? She married, after all
Young Christopher Scrub, with the viii
Ing consent of her mother, who n
longer attached that importance to cor
siderations OF blue blood, on the valu
VI which she had received so severe
lesson.
! The Medical Examining Hoard.
10 the .I1fitOr Of the DispQtch L:
You have kindly given the use OF You
/, columns 70 writers pro and con IN dl'
cussing the merits of the State Medic'
Examining Board and the law undo
which it was organized and its oper'
tons. The question Is attracting